"My Husband Wants Me to Look Like Beyoncé"

March 11, 2014

Marlon says that his wife of five years, Dedrea, has “let herself go,” and he’s ready to leave her if she doesn't make some changes. Dedrea says her husband’s demands are unrealistic and have hurt her self-esteem. Dr. Phil calls on lifestyle and fashion expert Lawrence Zarian to give Dedrea a confidence-boosting makeover — how will Marlon react? Plus, American Idol alum Ruben Studdard opens up about his dramatic 120-pound weight loss. Why did he finally make the commitment to get healthy? Plus, Ruben, accompanied by legendary music producer David Foster, performs a single from his new album!

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Marlon's Demands

"Everything about me is amazing," Marlon boasts, adding, "I need my wife to be the same. I want my wife, Dedrea, to look like Beyoncé." Marlon says when he first met Dedrea, he was blown away by her looks, but after she had their son, who's now 5, her priorities changed. Marlon says he wants Dedrea to lose 20 pounds and put more effort into her appearance. "Dedrea never wears lingerie," he complains. "At home, Dedrea wears a T-shirt and sweats. When she's cooking, it's like a boy is cooking at the stove." He adds, "When we go out, I feel like people look at me and say, 'She's not in his league.'" Marlon says he gets hit on often, and if Dedrea doesn't "step up her game," he will leave her in the next two months — or end up cheating. "If I ever was to cheat on Dedrea, it would be 100 percent her fault, because she didn’t do the things I wanted her to do," he says.

Marlon continues, "If Dedrea were to say something about my appearance, I would tell her she's wrong, because I believe I'm close to perfect." He says he spends hours getting ready and brushes his hair 5,000 times a day, because, "Looking good is everything." Marlon also admits that he takes pictures off himself 15 to 20 times a day. "When I look at the pictures, I see a model," he says. "I'm like, 'Damn, I look good!'"

Onstage, Dr. Phil says to Marlon, "Tell me what you want me to do, other than get additional security so you can get out of here alive. Seriously?"

“Dr. Phil, I’m a nice-looking young man, and I would love for my wife to be nice-looking like me," Marlon replies. "I need her to be that trophy wife for me."

“A trophy wife is a woman who can take care of business, home, kids and her husband," Dedrea insists.

"I’m the Jay-Z of Illinois, and I need a Beyoncé by my side." Plus, Robin McGraw takes issue with Marlon's "no sweatpants" rule for Dedrea!

Dr. Phil mentions that one of Marlon's requests is that Dedrea wear skimpy lingerie while doing the housework.

"I just want to know why he even wants me wearing, like, a string when he complains about my body and wants me to lose weight," Dedrea replies. "He doesn't make me feel good about myself. Why would I dress up sexy for you when I'm not good enough for you?" Dedrea admits that she used to dress sexier when she and Marlon first met, but adds, "That was before my baby. I have no time now. We run a full-time business. We're at work all day. He wants me to come home and cook, clean, dress sexy. I'm not a super woman."

"I don’t care what you want. What about what I want? I want romance — he doesn’t do that."

Has Marlon been faithful to Dedrea? And, Dr. Phil drills down on Marlon: "Do you know what a narcissist is?"

"If you’re all that and a bag of chips, why don't you have her just eating out of your hand?" Dr. Phil asks Marlon.

"That’s what I’m trying to get her to do," Marlon says. "Not eat out of my hand, but just doing the things I want her to do. That's all I'm asking — it's not a lot."

"It’s not a lot?" Dr. Phil responds. "All you’re asking is for her to just forget about what she wants, forget that she works in the home and out of the home, that she has a child. You want her to become a Barbie doll for you." He continues, "You haven't made one comment about her quality as a mother, her commitment as a wife — all the things she does that define her as a woman. You want her to wear a short skirt and cook in her negligée."

"She's a great mom, I admit," Marlon replies.

"It's a little late for that," Dr. Phil comments.

Enter "The Fashion Guy"

Lawrence Zarian has made a name for himself in the entertainment world as "The Fashion Guy" and now, "The Makeover Man." But he says growing up, he struggled with self-esteem, always convinced that his twin brother, Gregory, was better than him. "As more time went on, my spirit started to get smaller, so I started to think, 'I have to create my own individuality,'" he recalls. "Thus, The Fashion Guy was born."

Lawrence also opens up about losing his mother, who died of complications from alcoholism when she was 58. "Throughout that process, I didn't want to feel, so I started to eat, and I started to drink," he admits. "I was spinning out of control." Lawrence recalls making the decision to seek professional help — and says he hasn't had a drink in eight years. He explains that his new book, Lawrence Zarian's 10 Commandments for a Perfect Wardrobe, is a product of his struggles — and reflects his belief that, "Anyone can be beautiful, if you love who you are." He stresses, "No designer label will change your feelings. You change your feelings."

“My first commandment is: Thou shall look in the mirror and love what you see."

"If you were going to work with her and dress her for her body, hair — all of that — would you try to mimic Beyoncé?" Dr. Phil asks Lawrence.

"Absolutely not. There's only one Beyoncé," Lawrence responds. "God created us all unique. First of all, you have to celebrate that," he tells Dedrea. "And second, I would love to get my hands on you and make you feel beautiful."

"Are you willing to let The Fashion Guy get with you — and get you back to what you want?" Dr. Phil asks.

"Absolutely," Deadra says. "I can do it."

Inspiration from an 'Idol'

It's been 11 years since Ruben Studdard was declared the winner of Season 2 of American Idol, a moment he calls "a dream come true." He says in the whirlwind of touring that followed, healthy eating wasn't always a priority. Ruben, who admits he's always been a bigger guy, tipped the scales at 462 pounds when he signed on for the latest season of The Biggest Loser. "It was very shocking. It almost brought me to tears," he recalls.

Ruben has now shed 120 pounds and says he's on his way to a healthier lifestyle. He released a new album, Unconditional Love, on February 4, produced by 16-time Grammy winner David Foster. "To have the opportunity to work with [David] on this project and have him so closely involved with my career now — it’s a real blessing," Ruben says. "I am enjoying life to the fullest. It’s been a great journey."

Ruben talks about the health scare that motivated him to shed the pounds. And, David Foster weighs in on the new album.

The Big Reveal

As Marlon, along with Dr. Phil, Lawrence, Ruben Studdard and David Foster look on, Dedrea unveils her new look. "Lawrence made me feel so beautiful. I feel like a new, sexy me," she says. Dedrea adds, "Everyone [backstage] made the point to let me know, 'You were gorgeous before, but now you're just a new, stunning you.'"

How does Marlon react to the new Dedrea? And, can the couple reconnect — and fix their marriage moving forward?

Web Extra: Ruben Studdard Sings

Ruben sings his cover of the Boz Scaggs classic, "Love, Look What You've Done to Me."